Wireless access point software system

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided that provides a mobile communication device with the ability to quickly reestablish a communication session with another after the communication device is awaken from a sleep or idle mode. The mobile communication device is provided with a first power system for powering a central operating system and a second power system for powering a communication system. A mobile communication device establishes a communication session with another communication device by establishing a connection and establishing a communication session. During an idle period, the communication session in a stack will be stored in memory. The first power system and the central operating system will then enter a low power or sleep mode, while second power system and the communication system can maintain a communication connection with the other device. Upon reestablishing communications, the mobile communication device will wake up the first power supply and the central operating system. The central operating system will then copy the previous communication session from the memory into the stack and reestablish the communication session with the other device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/629,422, filed onJul. 29, 2003, entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS POINT SOFTWARE SYSTEM”, whichis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/727,860, filed on Dec. 4, 2000,entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS POINT SOFTWARE SYSTEM,” which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/220,260, filed Jul.24, 2000, entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS POINT SOFTWARE SYSTEM.” Theentireties of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to communication systems, and inparticular to a system and method for saving power in a mobilecommunication device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of cellular communication systems having mobile devices whichcommunicate with a hardwired network, such as a local area network (LAN)or a wide area network (WAN), has become widespread. Retail stores andwarehouse, for example, may user cellular communications systems withmobile data terminals to track inventory and replenish stock. Thetransportation industry may use such systems at large outdoor storagefacilities to keep an accurate account of incoming and outgoingshipments. In manufacturing facilities, such systems are useful fortracking parts, completed products and defects. Such systems are alsoutilized for cellular telephone communications to allow users withwireless telephones to roam across large geographical regions whileretaining telephonic access. Paging networks also may utilize cellularcommunications systems which enable a user carrying a pocket sized pagerto be paged anywhere within a geographic region.

A typical cellular communications system includes a number of fixedaccess points (also known as base stations) interconnected by a cablemedium often referred to as a system backbone. Also included in manycellular communications systems are intermediate access points which arenot directly connected to the system backbone but otherwise perform manyof the same functions as the fixed access points. Intermediate accesspoints, often referred to as wireless access points or base stations,increase the area within which access points connected to the systembackbone can communicate with mobile devices.

Associated with each access point is a geographic cell. The cell is ageographic area in which an access point has sufficient signal strengthto transmit data and receive data from a mobile device such as a dataterminal or telephone with an acceptable error rate. Typically, accesspoints will be positioned along the backbones such that the combinedcell area coverage from each access point provides full coverage of abuilding or site.

Mobile devices such as telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants(PDA's), data terminals etc. are designed to be carried throughout thesystem from cell to cell. Each mobile device is capable of communicatingwith the system backbone via wireless communication between the mobiledevice and an access point to which the mobile device is registered. Asthe mobile device roams from one cell to another, the mobile device willtypically deregister with the access point of the previous cell andregister with the access point associated with the new cell. In certainsituations, the mobile device will become idle and the mobile devicewill enter a sleep or idle mode to conserve power. The problem is thatwhen the mobile device is awaken by a communication from another device,it can take several minutes to reestablish a connection and acommunication session between the devices. Reestablishing thiscommunication session requires utilization of several minutes of batterypower each time the main processor is awaken.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need in the art for a system and methodthat allows a mobile communication device to quickly reestablish acommunication session, while still providing a mechanism for conservingpower during idle mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method that provides amobile communication device with the ability to quickly reestablish acommunication session with another device, such as an access point orthe like, after the communication device is awaken from a sleep or idlemode. The mobile communication device is provided with a first powersystem for powering a central processing system and a second powersystem for powering a radio device (e.g., a PCMCIA radio card). A mobilecommunication device establishes a communication session with anothercommunication device by establishing a connection via the radio deviceand establishing a communication session in a stack of a centralprocessing system. During an idle period, the communication session inthe stack is stored in memory. The first power system and the centralprocessing system will then enter a low power or sleep mode, whilesecond power system and the radio device maintain a communicationconnection with the other device. Upon receiving a communicationsdirected to the mobile communication device, the first power supply andthe central processing system will wake up. The central processingsystem will then copy the previous communication session from the memoryinto the stack and reestablish the communication session with the otherdevice. This eliminates the time necessary for reestablishing a newconnection by the radio device to the other device and reestablishing anew communication session by the central processing system with theother device.

In one aspect of the invention, the device has three different modes ofoperation which are normal mode, enhanced mode and hot mode. A centraloperating system resides and runs on the central processing system. Innormal mode, the system is powered up and the operating system loads theradio device driver. The radio device driver loads the configuration andconfigures all radio device slots. A communication session betweenanother device can then be initiated. In a suspend state, the mainprocessor enters a sleep mode and the communication session isterminated. If the device receives a communication for the mainprocessor, the device enters a hot mode waking up the main processorwhich reloads the radio driver and reloads the configuration settings.In enhanced mode, the system is powered up and the operating systemloads the radio device driver. The radio device driver loads theconfiguration and configures all radio device slots. A communicationsession between another device can then be initiated. In a suspendstate, the main processor loads the communication session from the stackinto memory and loads the configuration settings into the memory. Themain processor then enters a sleep mode, while the radio devicecontinues keeping the communication session or link open. If the devicereceives a communication for the main processor, the device enters a hotmode waking up the main processor which retrieves the communicationsession and configuration information from the memory. The communicationsession then continues uninterrupted. The device mode may be userconfigurable between the normal mode and the enhanced mode, for example,by providing an input selection component on an input panel or the like.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims. The following description andthe annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however,of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of theinvention may be employed. Other advantages and novel features of theinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a network communication system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematic diagram of a mobile communicationdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block schematic diagram of components residing in a mobilecommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram of components residing in a centralprocessing system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodology forreestablishing a communication session in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a block schematic diagram of communications between softwarecomponents during normal mode in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block schematic diagram of communications between softwarecomponents during enhancement mode in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodology of thedevice operating in normal mode in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodology of thedevice operating in enhanced mode in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to thedrawings. The present invention will be described with reference to asystem and method for saving power in a mobile communication devicewithout modification of a stack storing the communication session. Itshould be understood that the description of these aspects of theinvention are merely illustrative and that they should not be taken in alimiting sense.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a cellular communication system 50 illustratingan environment of the present invention is shown. The cellularcommunication system 50 includes a local area network (LAN) 52. The LANor network backbone 52 may be a hardwired data communication path madeof twisted pair cable, shielded coaxial cable or fiber optic cable, forexample, or may be wireless or partially wireless in nature. Coupled tothe LAN 52 are a stationary communication unit 53 and several accesspoints 54. Only one access point 54 a is shown hardwired to the networkbackbone 52, however, it is understood that more than one hardwiredaccess points 54 a may be physically connected to the network backbone52. The access points 54 may be hardwired to the network 52 such asaccess point 54 a or may be wirelessly coupled to the backbone 52 suchas access point 54 b. Each access point serves as an entrance pointthrough which wireless communications may occur with the networkbackbone 52. The wireless access point 54 b may be employed to expandthe effective communication range of the cellular communication system50. As is conventional, each wireless access point 54 b associatesitself, typically by registration, with another access point or a hostcomputer 60 coupled to the network backbone 52, whether hardwired orwireless, such that a link is formed between itself and other devicessituated on the network backbone 52.

Each access point 54 is capable of wirelessly communicating with otherdevices in the communication system 50 via respective antennas commonlydenoted by reference numeral 62. The antenna 62 for any particulardevice may be of any type suitable for use in a network cellularcommunication system, such as an omni-directional antenna, a yagi-typeantenna, etc. A geographic cell (not shown) associated with each accesspoint 54 defines a region of coverage in which successful wirelesscommunication may occur. Depending on the type of antenna 62 selectedand output power of the respective access point, the geographic cell maytake one of several different forms and sizes. For example, the antenna62 could be an omni-directional antenna if a generally spherical cellarea of coverage is desired. A directed yagi-type antenna could be usedas the antenna 62 for a more directed elliptical cell area of coverage.

The cellular communication system 50 also includes one or more mobilecommunication units 66. The mobile communication units 66 each includean antenna 67 for wirelessly communicating with other devices. Eachmobile communication unit 66 communicates with devices on the networkback 52 via a selected access point 54 and/or with other mobilecommunication units, and/or directly with the host computer 60 if withincell range of the host computer 60. Upon roaming from one cell toanother, the mobile communication unit 66 is configured to associateitself with a new access point 54 or directly with the host computer 60if within range. A mobile communicate unit 66 registers with aparticular access point which provides the particular mobilecommunications unit with wireless access to the network backbone 52.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a mobilecommunication device is shown according to one particular aspect of thepresent invention, wherein a processor 87 is responsible for controllingthe general operation of a hand held portable device 70. The processor87 is programmed to control and operate the various components withinthe hand held portable device 70 in order to carry out the variousfunctions described herein. The processor or CPU 87 can be any of aplurality of processors, such as the p24T, Pentium 50/75, Pentium 60/90,and Pentium 66/100, Pentium PRO and Pentium 2, and other similar andcompatible processors or micro controllers. A processor such as Intel's8 bit microcontrollers, the 8031, 8051 or 8052 can be utilized. Themanner in which the processor 87 can be programmed to carry out thefunctions relating to the present invention will be readily apparent tothose having ordinary skill in the art based on the description providedherein.

A memory 85 tied to the processor 87 is also included in the hand heldportable device 70 and serves to store program code executed by theprocessor 87 for carrying out operating functions of the hand heldportable device 70 as described herein. The memory 85 also serves as astorage medium for temporarily storing information such as communicationsession data from a stack residing in one of the processor 87 or thememory 85 and/or configuration setting information. The memory 85 isadapted to store a complete set of the information to be displayed.According to a preferred aspect, the memory 85 has sufficient capacityto store multiple sets of information, and the processor 87 couldinclude a program for alternating or cycling between various sets ofdisplay information. This feature enables a display 72 to show a varietyof effects conducive for quickly conveying product and customerinformation to a user.

The display 72 is coupled to the processor 87 via a display driversystem 73. The display 72 is preferably a touch screen display andprovides display inputs 75 to the processor 87 via an A/D converter 78.The display 72 functions to display data or other information relatingto ordinary operation of the hand held portable device 70. Additionally,the display 72 may display a variety of functions that control theexecution of the hand held portable device 70. The display 72 is capableof displaying both alphanumeric and graphical characters.

The hand held portable device 70 further includes an operator inputdevice 76 in the form of a key pad or the like which enables a user toenter data, information, function commands, etc. For example, the usermay select between operation of the hand held portable device 70 in anormal mode or in an enhanced mode. Furthermore, a user may inputinformation relating to product information and/or customer informationvia a keypad for subsequent transmission to an access point through anantenna 77. In addition, the input device 76 may include up and downcursor keys for controlling a cursor which may be shown on the display72. The input device 76 can also include a print key for subsequentprinting of information through a printer 82.

Power is provided to the processor 87 and other components forming thehand held portable device 70 by a battery power module 88. The hand heldportable device 70 is protected by battery power failure by a batterybackup power module 89. Typically, the battery backup module 89 is amuch smaller battery than the battery module 88 and invoked only duringswapping of the battery module 88 or a battery module failure.Preferably, the hand held portable device 70 will enter a minimumcurrent draw or sleep mode upon detection of the battery power modulefailure. Furthermore, the processor 87 and the battery power module areoperable to enter a minimum current draw or sleep mode if communicationshave not been directed to the hand held portable device 70 for apredetermined period of time, which may be user configurable (e.g., 30seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes).

The hand held portable device 70 includes a communication system 92which coupled to the processor 87. The communication system 92 includescommunication power 93 separate from the main power 88. The hand heldportable device also includes an RF section 91 connected to thecommunication system 92 for establishing a communication connection withother devices. The RF section 91 includes an RF receiver which receivesRF transmissions via the antenna 77 and demodulates the signal to obtaindigital information modulated therein. The RF section 91 also includesan RF transmitter for transmitting information, for example, in responseto an operator input at the operator input device 76 or the completionof a transaction.

Referring to FIG. 3 illustrating a schematic block diagram of a mobilecommunication device 120 according to the present invention. The mobilecommunication device 120 comprises a first power system 125 operable toprovide power to a central processing system 130 and a second powersystem 135 operable to provide power to a radio device 140 (e.g., aPCMCIA radio card) coupled to the central processing system 130. Theradio device 140 is coupled to an antenna 145 for transmitting andreceiving radio communications during a communication session with anaccess point or the like. Providing separate power systems 125 and 135allows for maintaining power to the radio device 140 during an idleperiod to maintain a communication connection or link with an accesspoint or the like, while the central processing system 130 enters a reststate or a sleep mode. A communication from the access point or the likedirected to the mobile communication device 120 causes the radio device140 to wake up the first power supply 125 and the central operatingsystem 130. The first power supply 125 and the central operating system130 then use information stored about the current session to reestablishthe communication session.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block schematic diagram of the central processingsystem 130. The central processing system 130 has a processor 150coupled to a communication session stack 155 and a memory 160. After apredetermined period of time without any communications, the processor150 will copy the contents of the communication session stack 155 intothe memory 160 and the central operating system 130 will enter a lowpower or sleep mode. Once communications is again commenced, the centralprocessing system 130 will awaken and the processor 150 will copy thecommunication session stored in the memory 160 back into thecommunication session stack 155. The communication session can thencontinue as before without the need to reestablish a new connection bythe radio device 140 and without the need to reestablish a communicationsession by the central processing system 130.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating one particular methodology forreestablishing a communication session after a portion of a mobilecommunication device enters a low power or sleep mode according to thepresent invention. In step 200, a mobile communication deviceestablishes a communication connection and session with an access pointor the like. In step 210, the mobile communication device determines ifthe system has been idle for a predefined period of time. If the systemhas not been idle for a predefined period of time (NO), the mobilecommunication device repeats step 210. If the system has been idle for apredefined period of time (YES), the mobile communication device copiesthe communication session stack into memory in step 220. In step 230,the central processor system enters a low power mode, while the radiodevice remains in normal mode and maintains the communication link. Instep 240, the mobile communication device determines if there has beenany communication from the access point directed to the communicationdevice. If there has not been any communication from the access pointdirected to the communication device in step 240 (NO), the centralprocessing system remains in the low power mode and the communicationdevice repeats step 240. If there has been communication from the accesspoint in step 240 (YES), the radio device wakes up the centralprocessing system in step 250. The central processing system then copiesthe communications session from the memory back into the stack andcontinues the previous communication session in step 260.

FIG. 6 illustrates the communications occurring between devicecomponents associated with the hand held portable device operating innormal mode. In normal mode, the system is powered up and an operatingsystem 300 loads a radio device driver 304. The radio device driver 304loads a configuration setting 308 and configures a radio device 310based on the configuration setting 308. The configuration settingincludes the setting of the operating mode which is normal or enhanced.The setting of the mode may be user configurable by selecting the modefrom an input device residing on the hand held portable device. Acommunication session between another device can then be initiated. In asuspend state, the operating system 300 initiates a suspend event 302,which is received by the radio driver 304. The main processor enters asleep mode and the communication session is terminated. If the devicereceives a communication for the main processor, the device enters a hotmode waking up the main processor and causing the operating system 300to initiate a resume event 302. On resume, the radio driver 304initiates a deinsertion event 306 followed by an insertion event 306.The series of events causes the previous communication session to belost. The operating system 300 then reloads the radio driver 304, whichreloads the configuration settings 308. A new communication session thenneeds to be established to continue communications between the devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates the communications occurring between componentsassociated with the device in enhanced mode. In enhanced mode, thesystem is powered up and the operating system 300 loads the radio devicedriver 304. The radio device driver 304 loads the configuration setting308 and configures the radio device 310 based on the configurationsetting 308. A communication session between another device can then beinitiated. In a suspend state, the operating system 300 initiates asuspend event 302, which is caught by an application program interface(API) wrapper 312 prior to reaching the radio driver 304. The radiodriver 304 loads the communication session information and theconfiguration settings into a memory 314. Alternatively, the API wrapper312 may be operable to load the communication session information andthe configuration settings into a memory 312. The main processor entersa sleep mode and the communication session continues through the radiodevice 310. If the device receives a communication for the mainprocessor, the device enters a hot mode waking up the main processor andcausing the operating system 300 to initiate a resume event 302. Theresume event is caught by the API wrapper 312 which loads, or tells theradio driver 304 to load, the communications session information backinto the stack and overrides the configuration settings 308 with theconfiguration settings stored into the memory 314. Therefore, the radiodriver 304 does not initiate a deinsertion event followed by aninsertion event and the previous communication session continues without the need to reestablish a communications link.

For example, if the operating system 300 is Microsoft® Windows® CEOperating System and the radio 310 is a PCMCIA radio card plugged into abackplane of the hand held portable device, then the PCMCIA driver willoperate as planned in normal mode. On Resume, the PCMCIA driver withgive a deinsertion event to all cards in all PCMCIA slots. Then aninsertion event is generated for each slot with a card present. Theseries of events causes the TCP/IP stack in Windows® CE to lose anyinformation that tied open WinSock socket to a given Network DeviceInterface Specification (NDIS) driver. Therefore, these sockets cannotcommunicate anymore. The enhanced mode defines that the PCMCIA driverwill not create the deinsertion/insertion events on a resume of thedevice. Therefore, the device driver will assume the responsibility torecover on resume. Changes to the PCMCIA card and socket services orWindows® CE, the Model Device Driver (MDD) and Platform Dependent Driver(PDD) are required to get the modes to work. A NDIS driver can supportthis mode by implementing a stream driver wrapper around the NDISdriver, so it can catch the resume events from the system. Once a resumeevent has been detected, the API Wrapper can call the card/socketservices to define the card into the proper mode for the NetworkInterface Card (NIC) card supported. Once this has happened, the APIwrapper can call the initialization routines in the NDIS drivers thatwill reinitialize the card and override the configuration with the savedconfiguration settings.

FIG. 8 illustrates one particular methodology for the steps associatedwith the operation of the hand held portable device when operating inthe normal mode. At step 400, the central processing system is poweredup and the operating system associated with the device is loaded intomemory and begins running. The radio device driver is then loaded by theoperating system at step 410. At step 420, the radio device driver loadsthe configuration settings and configures all radio devices present inthe hand held portable device. At step 430, the operating systemdetermines if that central processing system has been idle for apredetermined period of time (e.g., has not received communications forthe central processing system). If the system is not idle for apredetermined period of time (NO), the method continues repeating step430. If the system is idle for a predetermined period of time (YES), themethod advances to step 440 and the central processing system enters asleep mode. The central processing system continues monitoring the radiodevice for communications directed to the central processing system. Ifa communication is not received for the central processing system(NO),the central processing system continues monitoring the radio device forcommunications directed to the central processing system. If acommunication is received for the central processing system (YES), themethod advances to step 460. At step 460, the system enters a hot modeand wakes up the main processor. At step 470, the operating systemreloads the radio driver and the radio driver reloads the configurationsettings which configures the slots of all radio devices residing in thehand held portable device. At step 480, a new communication session isinitiated.

FIG. 9 illustrates one particular methodology for the steps associatedwith the device when operating in the enhanced mode. At step 500, thecentral processing system is powered up and the operating systemassociated with the device is loaded into memory and begins running. Theradio device driver is then loaded by the operating system at step 510.At step 520, the radio device driver loads the configuration settingsand configures all radio devices present in the hand held portabledevice. At step 530, the operating system determines if that centralprocessing system has been idle for a predetermined period of time(e.g., has not received communications for the central processingsystem). If the system is not idle for a predetermined period of time(NO), the method continues repeating step 530. If the system is idle fora predetermined period of time (YES), the method advances to step 540.At step 540, the configuration settings are stored and the centralprocessing system enters a sleep mode. The central processing systemcontinues monitoring the radio device for communications directed to thecentral processing system. If a communication is not received for thecentral processor (NO), the central processing system continuesmonitoring the radio device for communications directed to the centralprocessing system. If a communication is received for the centralprocessing system (YES), the method advances to step 560. At step 560,the system enters a hot mode and wakes up the main processor. At step570, the operating system reloads the radio driver and the radio driveroverrides the configuration settings with the stored configurationsettings. At step 580, the device continues with the currentcommunication system.

What has been described above are preferred aspects of the presentinvention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components or methodologies for purposes of describingthe present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that many further combinations and permutations of the presentinvention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intendedto embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A mobile communications device, comprising: a firstpower system that powers a central processing system; a second powersystem that powers a radio device; and a touch screen display thatreceives touch input from a user to select a preferred operating modefrom a plurality of operating modes, wherein respective operating modesuniquely allocate power to components of the device from the first powersystem, or the second power system.
 32. The device of claim 31, thetouch screen display allows the user to select a normal power operatingmode when status of radio signals indicates at least one of establishinga connection or establishing a session.
 33. The device of claim 31, thetouch screen display facilitates the first power system entering a lowpower operating mode when status of radio signals indicates terminationof a session.
 34. The device of claim 31, a normal power operating modeis associated with a communication session that facilitatesreestablishment of communication with another device.
 35. The device ofclaim 31, the first power system powers a central processing systemwhich receives a wake-up signal from the radio device when acommunication signal from a second device is directed to the mobilecommunications device, such that a communication session is copied froma memory to a session stack, and the touch screen display facilitatesuser input to reestablish a communication session.
 36. The device ofclaim 31, the plurality of operating modes includes a normal mode, anenhanced mode, or a hot mode.
 37. The device of claim 36, wherein whenin the normal mode an operating system also loads a radio device driver.38. The device of claim 36, wherein when in the enhanced mode a radiodevice driver loads a configuration, and configures at least one radiodevice slot.
 39. The device of claim 36, wherein when in the enhancedmode a communication session is maintained while the first power systemis in a sleep mode.
 40. The device of claim 38, the radio device driverconfigures all radio slots.
 41. The system of claim 36, the hot modecomprises waking up the central processing system, the centralprocessing system retrieves the communication session and configurationinformation from a memory.
 42. The system of claim 31, furthercomprising a battery backup module that supplies power when at least oneof a battery module is being replaced, or the battery module fails. 43.The system of claim 31, the mobile communications device is a cellulartelephone.
 44. The system of claim 31, the radio device is at least onePCMCIA card.
 45. A method of maintaining a communication session in amobile communication device, comprising: creating at least acommunication session in a session stack when communication isestablished with a remote device; prompting a user for input relating toa preferred operating mode of the mobile communication device through atouch screen display; receiving user input through the touch screendisplay; allocating power from a first power system, or a second powersystem according to the operating mode; and passing the communicationsession between the session stack and a memory of the central processingsystem in accordance with the preferred operating mode.
 46. The methodof claim 45, the passing of the communication session furthercomprising: copying the communication session from the session stack tothe memory of the central processing system when the preferred operatingmode is a low power operating mode; and copying the communicationsession into the session stack from the memory to reestablish thecommunication session when the preferred operating state is a normalpower operating mode.
 47. The method of claim 45, further comprisingcopying configuration settings into the memory prior to entering a lowpower operating mode.
 48. The method of claim 45, further comprisingproviding an operating system running on the central processing system,which operating system initiates a suspend mode prior to receiving auser input from the touch screen display to enter a low power operatingmode, and a resume event after receiving a wake-up signal.
 49. Themethod of claim 45, the preferred operating mode is a low power modewhen the radio device fails to receive radio signals within apredetermined duration of time, and a normal operating mode when theradio signals indicate at least one of establishing a connection andestablishing a session.
 50. A system that facilitates a communicationsession in a mobile communication device, comprising: means foralternating operation of the mobile communication device between atleast a normal mode or an enhanced mode; and means for receiving userinput relating to alternating operation of the mobile communicationsdevice between normal and enhanced mode, wherein the respective modesuniquely allocate power from a first power supply, or a second powersupply.